Pulp fibering and hydrating machine and process



E. B. FRITZ June 13, 1933. 1,913,540

' PULP FIBEMNG AND HYDRATING MACHINE AND PRocEss Filed Dec. 31, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Juni-:'13, 1933. 1,913,540

PULP FIBERING AND HYDRATING MACHINE AND PROCESSl E. B. FRITZ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 31, -1930 June 13, 1933. E, B, FRITZ 1,913,540

PULP FIBERING AND HYDRATING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed DSG. 5l, 1930 5 Shee'bS-Shel'. 5

Patented June 13, 1933 PATENT oFFicE EDWARD B. FRITZ, F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS PULP FIBE'BING AND HYDRATING MACHINE AND PROCESS Applicationy filed December 31, 1930. Serial No. 505,684.

` This invention is an improvement upon my former U. S. patents numbered 1,528,201; 1,556,926; 1,558,927: and the fundamental principles included in said patents are basically included in this application. The prin- .ciples included and claimed in my application Number 383,273, led Aug. 3, 1929, are also included herein.

The fundamental principle is a process of reducin ber content material to individualized rs and the simultaneous hydrating of the said ber reductions to a condition in readiness for the standard paper making machine. In my former patents I have presented the inventive idea of a machine, which was adaptedyto receive various ber content materials to be treated, the said materials having various densities, the same being acted upon during -the travel through theA machine, a primary pressure on the maf telial being sustained: the treatment while 4passing through' the said machine being adapted to individualize the bers from the material treated, preserving their identity and continuity while the same are being hydrated. In each of the said inventions there is" primarily included economy of operation as well'as speed of production. In the commonly knownart of paper making, the general method utilizedl is some form of device which operates to obtain fibers in such a form as can be used `in the making of paper; but this ordinarily consists.- in breaking fibers into smaller and smaller particles and ultimately in largely dstroyin the identity of the ber as concerns its Iength as well as its strength, In the present application I use the words bering and brating. These Words are not in '40 the Y accepted standard dictionaries, and hence I connote a meaning which is definite to "what I am claiming herein. In the com- 1 mnly known art of paper making it is sought to reduce certain classes of material to vconstituent fibers which upon being hydrated are adapted to be converted into paper! of various characters: of necessity it is offsuperior advantage to preserve as far as possible length and unity of ber for the quality of the final product. Hydration iS one result, but it is not the major result of the machine and process: it is an incidental but necessary result.

In the manufacture of paper various mafterials containing bers are used; such as rags, jute, wood, plants, old paper stock, straw, etc. Whether it be wood, plant or l Tag, the commonly known 'process of primary treatment is to obtain from the various materials the brous portions and de- 0 liver the same in a form commonl known as pulp. Taking the material at t 's stage it is common to andle the same in the t of machine known as a Beater, or the ordan. In each of this type of. machine the 05, material is primarily treated on the principle of passing it through some form of metal members where the principle of a knife blade comes substantially in contact with an opposition knife blade and the bers "are broken and thereby reduced to, a condition such asis desired for making into paper. In other words, it is a system of breaking up the bers and treating them in a water fluid until the said broken up bers are su v 75.

ciently hydrated to make them adaptable to the process of paper making. By fibering I desire to connote the process by which pulp of various compositions is disintegrated and the individual bers integrated, their individualizing being the major motive. And in the-same treatment, the process of brushing the bers contained in the pulp in such a manner that the bers are not broken but brushed to an individuality whichv maintains the integrity of the fiber as to character and length, while continuously hydrating the indivi`dua1 bers in readiness for paper .mak-

In the treatment and process herein set forth and claimed there is no metal contact inthe treatment of the pulp material whereby the character of the fiber is endangered. In the commonly known process the knives upon the movingil body are operated in conjunction with knives upon the stationary body in such a manner that the bers are broken intoy small bits so that their indentity is largely destroyed to accommodate the paper forming processes subsequent thereto.

Further, in'the said machines the movement of the knives on the one member in relation to the knives of the other member have a tendency to generate much heat, and the Said.

heat being communicated to the material being treated tends to Scorch and burn the fibers resulting in a depreciation of and injury to the product.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a form of my invention, in which I Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of my machine, showing the internal' movements and relations.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken section of. a rotary disc, indicatedby the arrows 3-3. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a rotary disc at a point substantially indicated by the arrows 4-4.

Fig. 5 is a half portion of stationary disc,

showing the upper side thereof.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a stationary disc and wall formation taken along ak line 6-6 of Fig. 5, as though the line were projected clear across the disc.

Fig. 7 is a half portion of the stationary disc shown in Fig. 1, and shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the under surface of the disc being indicated in its position in housing.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section across the portion of the disc indicated by arrows 8-8.

As shown thev device comprises a circular housing inclosing a circular chamber, the said housing consisting of a series of unit members superimposed, each member adapted to substantially fit into its adjacent member and form a circular vertical chamber, the said unit membersexcept the lowermost and a cap member-being substantially duplicates, so that any desired multiplication of activity can be attained upon a single base and operated with one power. A base 1() is provided, which contains a power transmitting mechanism and a means for elevating the yoperating mechanism to vary the character of the product operated on in the machine. Primarily mounted upon said base is a sectional member 11 of the chamber; this said member 11 is internally saucershaped substantially on three sides thereof,

y the curvaturev to the fourth side blending into an opening 37 which is'projected outwardly in a direction tangential to the circular contour of the member. Mounted upon this member 11 are a series of circular forms 12 adapted to--When placed one upon another--form a practically water-tight compartment. 0n the top-most of the sectional members 12 there is provided a cap 13 having therein an opening 14 for the delivery into the said chamber of material to be operated upon, and a bearing 38 for a shaft 28. Assembled in each of said sections 12, there is mounted a circuiar disc member 15; a member 12 and a member 15 formingl a unitary part of the structure, demountable as a unit. Each of the disc members 15 is substantially V shaped ,in half cross-section,

being wide on its outer periphery and tapering to a point a spaced distance from the center,.so that the said discs 15 are funnelshaped on the upper and lower sides, with a central aperture 16 for the free rotation of a shaft 28, also for the passage of material.

being acted upon; there being also an aperture 25 to be described hereinafter. I preferably make the V enclosure 17 hollow as shown except as hereinafter limited. The upper surface 18, of each of the ,said stationary discs is preferably smooth, and the under surface 19, bears projections in the form of bars or corrugations. These bars or corrugations serve two definite purposes among others, which are: they form baffles, and they form channels for the projection of the treated material, shooting 4the same downwardly and spreading the material over the surface of a rotating disc distributing the material as it 'is treated, in proportion to its advancement on the increasing surface of the rotating disc. These baffle bars are projected somewhat radially but definitely in vthe direction of the travel of the rotating discs. These bale bars 20 and 21 have their highest point of elevation 23 slightly removed from the edge of the aperture 16, so that theI material as it descends through the aperture 16 has a certain amount of freedom after which it is caught by the rotation of the rotor and shot through the channels formed by the said baiiie bars; the said baffle bars decreasing in elevation until they fade out into the surface of the disc at the clearance point 35. There is provided a series of long bars 20 with a series of shorter bars 21 alternating with the long bars and located in the wider spaces occasioned by the radial separation of the long bars. The highest surface elevation of the baille bars 20 and 21 is in a plane corresponding to the plane of the highest elevation of bars on the rotating discs to be described hereinafter. The fading out points are indicated at 24. In each of the `s tationary discs 15 I provide an aperture 25 transverse thereof, and at a point between the central aperture 16 and the peripheral wall, and in the assemblage of the machine I provide that these apertures 25 shall be at different terial and water for flowing and hydrating; and the same produces air-pockets, the machine being adapted to continuous feeding and continuous delivery. These said apertures 25 conserve a further purpose,

which is to assist in carrying off any tend-l ency to heat development or accumulation. Thev material delivered into the machine, as shown and claimed is normally under gravity pressure but the material may be delivered under a pressure in excess of the normal pressure of gravity. In our original application, as shown in our former patents herein referred to, the supply'was placed at such an elevation as would normally produce a pressure greater than the normal Weight of the material as it would appear in the machine. Theaperture is provided with a flared entry 26, to obviate any sharp edges to gobstruct the flow of material therethrough.

- In each of the sections above the section 11, I provide a channel with. a shoulder 27 in which to demountably seat the stationary disc 15.

F ixedly attached to the shaftv 28 are a series of rotatable discs 29, these are spaced apart and positioned so that a rotating discy alternates with a stationary disc and co- -0 operates therewith. On the upper surface 30 of each rotating disc there is provided a series of ribs or corrugations extending from a point adjacent the shaft to the periphery, there being a series of long ones 31, the same being spacedly divided by a series of short ones 32, beginning at a point where the radial division of the long ones is increased sufficiently to advantageously accommodate the short ones, the principle being that the operative surface is increased as the material moves outwardly under the centrifugal action of the rotating discs and la larger sury face is presented. I preferably place between the long ribs and the short ribs Wood members 33 whose elevation is slightly less than-the surface elevation of the described ribs, The under surface of the -ro-tating discs 29 are preferably flat providing a large space for the reception of the material as it comes from the rotating discs. This area being enlarged it assists the downward draft of the material. A clearance space 35 is providedl between the. circumferential edge of the rotating disc and the supporting, wall of the stationary disc 15, for the. free passage of the material downwardly around the edge'of said disc.

The baffle bars on the stationary discs and the bars on the rotating discs though traveling in the same plane never come in contact with each other, and by arrangement of the said baffling surfaces neverv cross each other in parallel lines. T he material being operated upon is buffeted against. the projecting surfaces and between the two series of movements is brushed until the fibrous portions are integrated and simultaneously hydrated. The device accomplishes the process of reducing material, integrating the individual fibers and hydrating the same during this process without bringing any of the fibers into a position wherethe operating factors in the device will break the fibers, there being no' metal or other contacts through which the material is passed to destroy the individuality ofthe fiber.

F ixedly attached to theshaft 28, at the upper part 0f the chamber and above the uppermoststationary disc, I provide a distributing member 36, which consists of a pair of arms extending outwardly and coming into contact with the material delivered into the housingthrough'the aperture 14, the purpose of this dlstributor being to carry the material'delivered in the machine in a manner to relieve the incoming material from clogging and to provide a better distribution tothe operative factors ofthe machine.

This process of disintegrating fiber-containing-material as herein set forth and integrating the fibers thereof, overcomes completely the heating and burning of the fiber. In the ordinarily known processrcommon to the art, the said processes are based upon a substantial contact of operating surfaces which generate heat and in the breaking of the fibers the heat developed in the process communicates itself to the fiber, which is ordinarily quite subject to heat which burns the fiber portion of the product, decreasing its commercial value to the extent of that heat. The process herein evidenced, and the machine claimed for doing the same, accomplishes the very reverse which is-the` cooling of all the material and the machinery by reason ofthe fluid portions passing therethrough and no metal or operative parts coming into any relation which would tend to produce friction and consequent heating andl burning.

I do not limit myself to the detail herein shown and described; and only tothe extent that I am limited by the scope of my claims. v

pulp individualizing the fibers and simultaneously Hydrating the same preparatory to paper making, comprising a circular housing with horizontally positioned stationary circular discs vertically positioned with relation to each other and substantially uniformly spaced apart, said stationary discs having a vplurality of apertures vertically transverse thereof, the upper and lower surfaces of said discs being conically inclined from a point adjacent the circumference to an apex spacedly removed from the centre thereof, constituting the said discs a substantially V shaped formation in cross section.

3. A machine for individualizing fibers and simultaneously hydrating the same preparatory to paper making, said machine comprising a circular housing with horizontally positioned stationary circular discs therein uniformly spaced apart, said stationary discs having a plurality of aper` tures vertically transverse thereof, the upper and lower surfaces of said discs being conically inclined from a point adjacent the circumference to an apex' somewhat removed from the center thereof, constituting the said discs a substantially V shaped formation. in cross-section, the lower side -of each `of said stationary discs bearing bars forming radially directed channels.

4.1In a machine for reducing material containing fibers to individualized fibers and simultaneously hydrating same; a housing inclosing a chamber, said housing being composed of sectional units demountably assembled vertically in association with each other, eachsectional unit above the lowermost chamberunit having, and adapted to support, therein a horizontally positioned disc member, each of said horizontal discs having a central aperture adapted to permit the functioning of a vertical shaft therethrough and with spaced clearance adjacent said shaft for the downward passage of material operated upon; a secondary aperture vertically transverse of each of said discs, each of said discs'having upon the under surface thereof a series of bars extending in a radial direction from the center outwardly.

5. In a device for thepurposes described a chamber enclosing housing mounted on a base, said housing consisting of a primary unit and mountably assembled thereon a series of demountable units each having a.

circular wall portion with means thereon for supporting a stationary horizontal disc member, so devised that a plurality of units can be mounted and form a substantiallyy 6. In a device forfthe purposes described a chamber constituted within a lseries of demountable sections, the lowermost of said demountable sections lhaving an internal I wall formation substantially saucer-shaped onthree sides thereof, the wall of the fourth side curving into an openingthrough` the wall of the section, the said outlet opening in the wall of the section being tangentially projectedl therefrom, whereby the material being delivered therefrom may be delivered with a minimum of resistance to its flow when being forcibly propelled from the said chamber.

7 In a machine of the character described a vertical chamber having associated with the internal walls thereof a plurality of spaced apart inwardly tapering disc members, each of said discs being apertured in the center for the free movement of a shaft, said shaft being vertically functioned and rotatable, bearing fixedly attached thereto a spaced apart series of discs adapted'to alternate with the stationary discs', each of the said stationary discs having transverse ,thereof an aperture between the central aperture and the circumference.

8. A machine for individualizing fibers and simultaneously hydrating same' preparatory topaper making, comprising a circular housing enclosing a chamber; the said housing consisting of a series of units mounted one upon. the other, each unit adapted to carry a horizontal circular disc member therein, the said yunits when assembled presenting the said horizontal disc members as substantially uniformly spaced apart vertically; a vertical shaft rotatably assembled in the center of said chamber bearing a spaced apart series of discs rotatable with said shaft, each said rotatable disc adapted to alternate with a stationary disc, the upper surface of each roatable disc being corrugated and adapted to travel spacedly apart from, and in the same plane with a surface of a stationary disc, the inclination of the adjacent planes being downward and outward from a projected central point, the stationary discs having apertures transverse thereof for the free passage ofmaterial, air and heat therethrough, and the rotating discs being of lesser diameter than the diameter of the housing providing a clearance space between the perimeter of the rotating disc and the inner wall of the housing.

- 9. In a machine for the purposes described, a circular housing enclosing a chamber, a spaced apart series of stationary discs supported, and held in position, by the members composing the housing, each of said stationary discs being funnelshaped on the top and bottom, and the said bottom bearing channelling bars; a vertically positioned rotor centrally located in the chamber and comprising a shaft with discs thereon, said discs spaced apart and adapted to alternate with the stationary discs, the upper surfaceof the rotary discsA corrugated gations on one disc never cross a channel bar on the opposite disc at the same radial 10. In a machine of the character described for disintegrating pulp material containing fibers and hydrating the said fibers toa consistency adapted for.. paper making,

a vertical chamber comprising a series of sectional members each said sectional member carrying a disc conically shaped top and bottom and having a central aperture and an aperture between the central aperture and the disc periphery, both apertures transverse of the disc, the bottom surface `of each said disc bearing bars extending from the central aperture to a point adjacent the periphery.

11. In a machine of the character described for disintegrating pulp material containing fibers and hydrating the said fibers to a consistency adapted for paper making, a vertical chamber coinprising'a series of sectionalmembers each said sectional member carrying a disc conically shaped top and bottom and having a central apertureand an aperture between the central aperture and the disc periphery, both apertures transverse of the disc, the bottom surface of each said disc bearing bars extending from the central aperture to a point adjacent the periphery. A rotor centrally functioning in u said chamber comprising a vertical shaft and discs fixed thereon, each said disc member of the rotor adapted to alternate with a stationary disc assembled in the chamber,

the said rotor discs having their upper surfaces outwardly and downwardly inclined from adjacent the shaft to the circumference, each said upper surface bearing bars in relief outwardly directed from a point adjacent the shaftto a point adjacent the periphery, the inclination of the bar surace of each said rotor disc being in the same plane as the inclination of a bar surface of a stationary disc and adapted to cooperate therewith.

12. In a machine of the character described a housing consisting of a demountable series 4of individual units forming an enclosed chamber, each ofY said demountable units above the lowermost being duplicates and containing means for supporting a stationaryl demountable disc; said disc being conically shaped top and bottom, the conical planes forming an apex at an aperture in the center thereof; each of said discs having an aperture transverse thereof situated between the central aperture and the circumference of the disc; the underside of 1 each disc bearing raised portions adapted v surfaces `to carry material centrifugally'when acted upon by a rotor; a rotor centrally located in the chamber consisting of a vertically mounted shaft bearing discs spaced apart and each ada ted to coact with a stationary disc; the surface of each rotor disc adjacent a stationary disc surface bearing elevations, said elevations having an inclination parallel to the inclination of an adjacent elevated surface of the stationary disc, the elevations on the stationary and rotor discs so -devised that there shall never be any alignment of the elevations disc with the elevations on itsvcoactive adjacent rotor disc.

13. The process ofreducing pulp material containing fibers ltoa homogenous mass made ready for paper making consisting of passing continuously through a machine .containing vertically positioned alternating stationary and rotating discs the said material and an amount of water such as may be found eicient in varying requirements to Viow the pulp material and to hydrate the fibers individualized by said machine, the primary principle of the process being the provision of a moving surface bearing cor- 4rugations coacting with a stationary surface bearing channelling bars, the said adjacent surfaces being so positioned that the material passing therebetween and therealong is brushed by the said cooperating centrifugal and gyratory surfaces in such a manner as to individualize the fibers and substantially maintain the integrity of each individual fiber, and in the process of individualizing the fibers to hydrate the same, there being no contact relation of the metal members whereby to cut or break the individual fiber.

14;. In connection with a machine of the class described the process of introducing simultaneously at an elevation pulp material having a fibrous content with a cerl tain amount of water; and the passing of the mixture (through a .continuous series of downward movements) between stationary and rotating discs, said discs having adjacent each other so devised as to swirl and centrifugally throw the fibrous material against bafiiing surfaces, the said baffling surfaces being constructed at angles to each other such that cooperating corrugations and baiiies never cross each other at the same angle but coact in a manner to brush the fiber contents of the material into on a stationary individualized bers and beat the said fibers let adjacent to the bottom of said chamber; a series of spaced apart stationary discs, vertically related in the said chamber;l a shaft centrally located and operable in the said chamber, the lower end of said shaft passing through an aperture in the base of the chamber and resting upon a rotatable bearing assembled in the said base; assembled on said shaft within said chamber a spaced apart series of rotatale discs 10 so positioned upon said shaft that each of said discs coacts with a stationary disc; outlet from said chamber tangentially projected in the direction in which the rotating member revolves.

16. In a device of the character described, a saucer shaped formation in the bottom unit of the chamber created by the housing,

i the said saucer shaped formation extending substantially around three sides of the chamber, the fourth side being conformed to flow into a tangentially formed outlet, whereby when the material operated upon has reached the bottom of the chamber its momentum Will have the tendency to rap- `idly force the finished material out through the outflow member.

17. In a device of the character described a vertical circular chamber mounted upon a base, a cap enclosing the chamber, on the inner Walls of said chamber annular means for supporting a series of stationary discs spaced apart vertically in said chamber, each of said discs being characterized by av plurality of corrugations extending superficially therearound on one face of each disc,

the said corrugated face being on an under .side of each of said stationary discs; an aperture centrally transverse of each disc of a diameter suflicient to provide for the operation therein of a shaft and clearance enough to accommodate the passage of ma- 4terial being operated upon; centrally located in said housing a vertical shaft rotatably mounted having fixed thereto rotating discs spaced apart vertica1ly, the up per surface of each of said rotating discs bearing corrugations adapted to coact with the corrugations on the under side of an adjacent stationary disc, each stationary disc y'50 alternating with a rotating disc; an aperture in the cap of the housing Wherethroughto deliver material at the'highest point of machine activity, an outlet in the lowest member of the housing portion adapted to secure the passage of material from the said machine in the direction of the travel of the rotors.

18. A device of the character described, characterized in that a pair of arms are attached to the shaft and at a point above the highest of the stationary discs, adapted to act as a spreader of the material delivered thi ough the inlet in the top.

Signed at Chicago, Ill., December 24, 1930. EDWARD B. FRITZ. y 

